10 reasons to visit Andalucia

Whilst for us spending a week with old Spanish-Sri Lankan friends from Sydney and seeing them grow into a family, this time round was by far our highlight of Andalucia, even without that this most diverse and sun-kissed region in Southern Spain is a fabulous hodgepodge of anything a traveller’s heart could wish for. Here’s only a few reasons of why to go.

1. It’s beautiful

From UNESCO heritage sites, over splendid nature in all its shapes and forms, the few English settlements on the Costa de Sol aside, there’s not a spot on this land that anyone could call anything but breath-takingly beautiful. If you like picturesque cities, from Granada and Sevilla over Cordoba or smaller towns like Ronda and Jimena de la Frontera – there is a more than abundant premium selection to pick from. If you are a beach lover, you can chose from the English pub and fiesta beaches by the Costa de Sol, to more beautiful scenery further East or West. If you like it colder, head up one of the many mountains and national parks covered in lush forests and green pastures.

Driving south from Madrid, past castles and Manchego factories in Castillo la Mancha, we first pass olive tree fields as far as the eyes can reach, then stop for lunch in one of historians world mekkas, Granada, from where winding roads through lush mountains finally land us by the endless beaches. We couldn’t have asked for more variety in two days of travelling from Madrid to the Southern coasts.

2. It’s dry

This might sound irrelevant to non-sailors. But all those who’ve lived on a boat for any amount of time, who now the litres of mildew sticking even to the smallest items the moment night falls, who have experienced skin blisters and bruises not healing for the constant humid environment, and understand what it means not getting that humid salty air out of any of their clothes, blankies and cushions – all those will appreciate like us, the beautiful warm, dry Andalucian air like nothing else.

3. People are most laid-back and friendly

(…and parrots too!)

Spaniards in general are hard to dislike with their happy, open and chilled-out attitude. Southerners take it to the next level. Siesta is a must. Stress unknown territory. Talking about savoir-vivre, they’ve got it!

4. Kids are welcome

When one of the littlies starts giving their best karaoke in the middle of a restaurant without stop, instead of grumpy looks its more likely to blend in with the generally loud and joyous atmosphere of Spanish life. At most, the waiter or grand-ma from the next table will come and start playing or hugging your kid. Nothing for touch-averse people, but a paradise for curious and flexible travelling families.

This, unfortunately does not include many accommodation options which tend to charge extra for each child. Make sure you check in advance whether there is extra charges for extra beds, cots and/or breakfast.

5. Tapas are delicious and generous

Often with neither ordering nor having to pay for them, beverages are accompanied by the most delicious snacks. We are not talking greasy packaged chips here. Tapas can be anything from tortilla de patatas, over some egg variation, little sandwich with local ham, cheese, seafood and other local specialties. An unwritten rule tends to be that the further into the rounds of cerveza you head, the more elaborate the tapas get. For instance, while the first one might get you a few delicious local olives, the tenth round might see you and your mates dipping into oysters or scallops.

6. There are many off-the-beaten tracks to discover

Although tourism is well developed in the coastal areas, cities and some mountain towns, there are still many areas like national park tracks, small mountain villages not mentioned in the latest Lonely Planet. Even just the hinterland of more developed coastal towns sometimes awaits with delicious local-ness and a magic touch.

7. For those who like it loud…

Of course there are the LA/Gold Coast remixes as Marbella and the like. You don’t need to look hard to find them and honestly, get your Lonely Planet for this as I won’t be able to tell you any secrets about that scene anymore. I’m a mum! Nostalgia, nostalgia, nostalgia… the past is the past, jaja.

8. Arabic culture in European environment

If Africa feels a bit scary, but you are still curious to discover some of its culture at first hand, Andalucía is the place to be. With hundreds of years of Moor influence, many of the places like Granada and the famous white villages in its surroundings, show at least as much Arabic influence as Christian or Jewish. The further south you head, the more common hammams, more abundant Morroccon cuisine, and more omnipresent moor architecture become.

9. Uncountable national parks

Just from a general map I counted over 14. Many of them unknown even to my well-tracked Spanish friends. From hippie havens inviting for handycraft stops in quain villages (Alpujarras), over abandoned railway tracks offering miles of walks or bike rides through tunnels and stunning scenery (Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema) to mountain hikes past rivers and Roman ruins for all levels. Andalucia has got it all.

10. Uncountable beaches

Given it’s miles and miles of coastline, it doesn’t come as a surprise. Most of Spain’s southern coasts have made a name for themselves and once again you can chose between party zones, remote beaches, big, small, developed and chilled.

A little extra handy characteristic for adventurous travelling nomads like us: Africa is just ½ hr ferry ride away. And that’s where we are heading for as I send off this post.

Another beautiful interview, this time with the amazing Shevonne Hunt from Kinderling Radio in Sydney. She’s found her passion and when it comes to her interviews and podcasts, you know Shevonne’s found her Dharma, her path in life, as not only her eyes, but every cell of her body sparkles. Encounters like that make me happy. Thanks Shevonne and everyone else, enjoy the short and sweet 10 minute interview.

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It feels like a long time ago, and at the same time like yesterday. Before baby #3 pops out, closing a chapter, I had to put together our last sailing video from the three years we spent in the Mediterranean. Looking at it, it sometimes feels like the last summer before my life started falling apart… and here we are, slowly putting the pieces together again, trying to make sense of that big jig-saw puzzle that is life – to embrace whatever, whenever and wherever adventures the future has on hold for us. Namaste and love from Sydney.

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Wrapping up a tough but rewarding week of boatyard work, with Happy Dancer back in the water we’ve started to turn out attention Westwards. It’ll be going that way for a looong time (How many miles to Australia?) and after Greece, we’ll stop over in Malta again for a few days to provision big times on all the good stuff from tons of nori and nato, over pools full of coconut juice, plus the other bits and odds like lucuma powder, chia seeds and, of course, veggie mite.

With another crossing soon ahead, what a better time to have a glance back at our five days leaving Malta for Greece and Turkey. Enjoy the video of five days aboard with kids and no wind.

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It’s been exactly one month since we left our winter home of seven months in Malta’s Msida Creek. And what a month it’s been – following an amazing and productive winter. While mum and dad were topping up the kitty, healing Happy Dancer‘s little age-related wounds and connecting with the local yoga community, the kids had fun. LOTS of fun as this little video shows. Enjoy and remember – we always love to hear from readers!

Last weekend we received our official Welcome Ceremony at the Narara Eco Village, an hour north of Sydney. A long time has passed since I have written regularly, partially due to more time spend turning inwards, partially due to lots of yoga teaching, retreats and workshops which – together with the homeschooling of my three, a sailing boat to loath and love, freelance writing commitment and, yes, believe it or not, time to meditate and dance – left my blogging tank empty.

Right now, however, I’m feeling a new wave of sharing enthusiasm as the sangha, my community, whether in yoga, at the Village, amongst fellow sailors and far out into this world with you, is after all something that gives me energy and joy. As such, let me share the beautiful poem we were welcomed with at Narara as we walked through the welcoming spiral. I hope it makes your heart beat faster, just like it did with mine.

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Re-reading several of the old Yoga scriptures has been the literacy guideline for my year so far. As such I am ploughing through Desikachar’s Heart of Yoga and although I’d love to quote almost all, this is one every part of me resonates with:

We can never experience our real nature if we do not expose ourselves to change. That is why we must test ourselves sometimes by doing something completely different.

Have you done anything different yet this year? or are planning something which you’ve never done before?

#welovecomments

Few spots left for our Bali Yoga Retreat this April: https://sailingyogafamily.com/yoga/yoga-retreats-2/blissful-bali-yoga-retreat-april2017/

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A friend sent me a scientific article this morning which seemed to prove how optimistic feelings and moods influence positively on the body’s physcial health and well-being. More specifically, the feeling of being in awe was linked to reducing inflammation in the body.

It’s interesting how science more and more proves what is pretty obvious when you live ‘in tune’. Sailors would know that despite the challenges of living among the most hostile environments, there’s not much to beat sunrises at Sea. Parents would know there’s not much that beats that first little smile or gaze of a newborn. Anyone, who embraces live to the fullest would know, that being in awe can be a daily, casual thing which enhances our health and well-being on so many levels. So turn off your device (I’d say it’s pretty unlikely to find that feeling through a screen…) and look around you. Notice something to be in awe of?

With love, lightness and gratitude. Dini

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Receiving mail is sort of an issue when cruising. Urgent stuff like new boat bits we get sent to the next reliable place we stop and where we have some contacts – either a reliable marina, friends or something similar. The little of the regular mail which couldn’t be turned electronic gets sent to my granny who just called me super excitedly. This is how I found out I’m on the cover picture of the the current Compass’ Cover Page: The Moody Owner’s Association (fantastic club – couldn’t praise them enough and so glad to be part of it!) quarterly magazine. The little joys and surprises of life as you sit in a Crete Cafe and put together info for your next Yoga Retreat on Tenerife in the Canary Islands in November😉

Blog Stats

Travelling yogini. Free spirit. Skipper of Happy Dancer. Mother of three angels. Ayurvedic practitioner. Yin and vinyasa yoga teacher. Acro yoga lover. Experienced doula. Sustainability dudess. Lunatic dancer. Tarot card reader. Passionate writer... I love sharing big and small steps of our journey: Living the dream.
When we are not sailing the world on Happy Dancer, we stop to teach yoga, connect with local communities, dive right into a place, its peoples and cultures and bring joy and encouragement for others to live their dreams.
Believing in the power of one's dreams is what drives me, and having the power to bring dreams alive is what keeps me going. Enjoy the ride and please do get in touch to share your dreams. We love likes, comments and emails - or radio us on VHF, dance with us at a festival or join one of my yoga retreats!